The average annual gross rental yield on three-bedroom properties among 212 counties nationwide is projected to be 7.5% this year, up from its 6.7% average a year ago, according to a recently released report from ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property and real estate. The report analyzed the single-family rental returns of 212 U.S. counties with a population of at least 100,000 and sufficient rental and home price data. 

The numbers reflected the first rise nationwide since 2019. Moreover, the yield increased from 2022 to 2023 in 91% of the counties, after declining to 72% in the prior time frame.

Data also revealed that rents are increasing faster than home prices for most of the country, or in 192 and 91% of the counties. More typically, rents are rising by between 5% and 20%, while changes in home values are trending from a 5% loss to a 5% gain. The result, says Rob Barber, ATTOM's Chief Executive Officer, is that "The broader housing market didn't fare nearly as well in 2022 as it did in 2021."